Bowel Cancer

Bowel Cancer Screening

Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK. The second leading cause of cancer deaths, with over 16,000 people dying each year. Screening aims to find bowel cancer at an early stage.

Who is offered bowel cancer screening?

Bowel cancer screening is currently offered to people aged 50 to 74 every 2 years. If you're aged 50-74 and registered with a GP, you will automatically get your bowel cancer screening home test kit through the post. 

You can also get screening for bowel cancer every 2 years if you're aged 75 or over. But, you need to call the bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 6060 and ask for the test.

What is bowel cancer screening?

Bowel cancer screening uses a test called a faecal immunochemical test (FIT) to look for blood in a sample of your poo, which could be a sign of bowel cancer.

You collect the sample at home and send it by post to be tested. 

For more information, please www.nhs.uk